Edward Ricart/Tim Daisy-Yiu Ja Ley; eh? Records #69, 2012 CDr

 

Kind of a way-back selection here, seeing as that Disaster Amnesiac has had this CDr for many years and yet neglected to review it. Yiu Ja Ley emerged recently from my stacks kind of demanding to be listened to, so listen I have done. 

This duo recording from 2011 has guitarist Ricart and drummer Daisy in fine improvising form, using their individual pinpoint accuracy of playing skills to conjure twisting, turning journeys of sound. Layers of what could be loops are set up by the guitar, atop of which the live actions pulse, skitter, jump, and just generally go off around. Of particularly compelling nature are the dry tones that Ricart uses. They evince a player who is fully in control of his instrument. One can hear his fingers as they are positioned at various spots upon the guitar neck, and the resultant tones, juicy or dry, are chased down by the precision tooled percussion of Daisy. Much like those of his partner, the drummer defines each touch of the instrument as they occur, and they all sound considered and important to the whole. This is Jazz, straight up. Tim's poly-rhythms divide up the pieces into multiple time zones. Edward responds in ways that spiral out of his amp with pleasing wildness. It's intense and yet never overwhelming, this chasing action by the duo.  The dynamics of the spaces between chaos and control, again, Jazz straight up.

Yiu Ja Ley is filled to the brim with the kind of interactive playing that guys such as this live for; it has that crackling energy that gets put out when improvisors take the space to really throw down and play. Hopefully it's found its way into the stereo systems and perceptions of lovers of Jazz and Improvised Music.